Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-19

A superstitious terror had begun to
seize him at the thought Of blood. The
sitting hold seemed sagain filed with
struggling figures he had known; the air
thick with cries aud blasphemies that he
had forgotten He rose TO his feet, and,
running quickly to the hatchway, leaped
TO the deck above. All was quiet. The
door leading to the empty loft yielded TO
his touch. He entered, and, gliding
through, unbarred and opened the door
that gave upon the alley. The e1ld air
and moonlight flowed in silently; the way
Of escape was clear. BAH He would go
back for the treasure.
He had reached the passage when the
door he had Just opened was suddenly
darkened. Turning rapidly, he was con-
scious Of gaunt figure, grotesque, silent,
and erect, looming on the threshold be-
tween him and the sky. Hidden in the
shallow, he made stealthy step towards
II, with an iron wrench in his uplifted
hand But the next moment his eyes d.
lated with superstitious horror; the iron
fell from his hand, and with scream,
like a frightened animal he turned and
fed into the passage. In the first access
Of his blind terror he tried TO reach the
deck above through the forehatch, but
was stopped by the sound Of a heavy tread
overhead The immediate fear Of detec-
ton now oyercame his superstition; he
would have even faced the apparition
again to escape through the loft; but, be-
fore he could return there, other foot
steps approached rapidly from the end
Of the passage he would have TO tray
erse. There was but one chance Of escape
left now-the forehold he had just quit
ted. He might hide there until the alarm
WAS over He glided back to the hatch,
lifted 1t, and 1t closed softly over his head
as the upper hatch was simultaneously
raised, and the small round eyes OF Abner
Mott pecred down upon it. The other
footsteps proved to be Renshaw's, but,
attracted by the open door Of the loft, he
turned aside and entered. AS soon as he
disappeared Mr.. Mott cautiously dropped
through the opening TO the deck below,
and going to the other hatch through
which the Lascar had vanished, deliber-
ately refastened it. In a few moments
Renshaw .aturned with light and found
the old man sitting on the hatch.
"rhe loft door was open, said Rem
shaw. There's little doubt whoever was
here escaped that way"
"Surely," said Mott. There was Pc
culiar look Of Machiavellian sagacity in
his face which irritated Renshaw.
"Then you're sure it was Ferrieres you
saw pass by your window before you called
me2' he asked.
Mott nodded his head with an express
sion Of infinite profundity.
But you say he was going from the
ship. Then it could not have been he
who made the noise we heard down here. "
"Mebbe no and mebbe yes" returned
Mott, cautiously.
"But if he was already concealed inside
the ship, as that open door, which you say
you barred from the inside, would indi-
cate, what the devil did he want with
this?" said Renshaw, producing the mon
key wrench he had picked up
Mr. Mott examined the tool carefully
aud shook his head with momentous sig
niicance Nevertheless, his eyes wan
dered to the hatch on which he was seated
"Dd you find anything disturbed
there said Renshaw following the di-
rection of mis- eye. WAS that hatch fast
ened rs il is now''
at was, " said Mott, calmly. But We
wouldn' mind fetchin' me n hammer and
some o them big nails from the locker,
would yer, while | hang round here just
SO Ell to make sure against another at
tack
Renshaw complied with his request;
but rs Mott proceeded to gravely nail
dowa the fastenings of the hatch, he
turned impatiently away to complete his
examination of the ship. The doors of
the other lofts and their fastenngs APP
peared secure and undisturbed. Yet it
was undeniable that felonious entrance
had been made, but by whom, or for what
purpose. still remained uncertain Even
now Renshaw found it difficult to accept
Motifs theory that de Ferrieres was the
aggresSor and Rosey the object, nor could
he justify his own suspicion that the Las
car had obtained surreptitous entrance
under Sleght's directions. With a feeling
that If Rosey had been present he would
have confessed all. and demanded from
her an equal confidence, he began to hate
his feeble, purposeless and inefficient alll-
ance with her father who believed but
dare not tax his daughter with completely
in this outrage. What could be done with
n man whose only idea of action at such a
moment was to nail up an undisturbed
entrance In his invaded house, He was so
preoccupied with these thoughts that when
Mott rejoined him in the cabin he scarcely
needed his presence, and was entirely OBJ
livious Of the furtive looks which the old
man from time to time cast upon his face.
II reckon We wouldn't mind" broke in
Mott, suddenly. EFF | asked favor of ye,
Mr. Rcnshaw. Mebbee yen allow it's
askiu too much in the matter of expense;
mebbec yen allow it's askin' too much in
the matter o. time. But kalkilate to pay
all the expense, and il you'd let me know
what yer vally yer time at, | reckon l
could stand that. What I'd he askin' is
this. Would ye mind takin' a letter from
answers'
Renshaw stared speechlessly at this alb
surd realization of his wish of a moment
before II don't think understand
you,-' he stammered.
"P'r'aps not" returned Mott, with
great gravity. But that's not SO much
to you ez your time and expenses"
II meant should be glad to 20 if l can
be of any service to you," said Renshaw,
hastily.
lyon kin ketch the O'Clock boat this
morning and you'll reach san Rafael
at To-
but | thought Miss Rosey went to
Petaluma, " interrupted Renshaw quickly
Mott regarded him with an expression
OF patronizing superiority. That's what
we ladled out TO the public gin rally. and
to Ferrers and his gang in partickler We
said Petalumey, but if you go to Madrono
Cottage, san Rafael, you'll find Rosey
thar"
II Mr.. Reushaw required anything more
to convince him of the necessity of coming
to some understanding with Rosey at ohce
it would have been this last evidence of